While there are quite a few ongoing games and future projects in the works using the Marvel IP, Arc System Works surprised everyone with the reveal ofMarvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, a 2D tag-team fighting game. Following in the wake ofMarvel Rivals, it seems that Disney is content to lend the heroes and villains of Marvel to Eastern developers, and Arc System Works is one of the best possible choices for fighting games. While not as famous outside the genre, Arc System Works is famed for the consistent quality of its fighting games, andMarvel Tōkondoesn’t seem like an exception.
From the reveal, the game already looks extremely stylish, dynamic, and quite distinctly Japanese, given the nation of Arc System Works' origin, but the characters are all recognizable, from their outfits to their abilities. A good example is Iron Man, who keeps his iconic red and gold color scheme while having a helmet that looks like it could fit perfectly into theGundamseries. It is certainly a unique combination,but many have drawn comparisons to this project and theMarvel vs. Capcomseries, and for good reason.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls Can Fill The Void Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 Left
Especially After The Failures Of MvC: Infinite
While those outside the fighting game genre may only know vague details aboutUltimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3and its infamous lack of balance, it should be noted that this game is one of the most popular in the genre, exhibiting extreme longevity. Although it was released in 2011, it still has a healthy community.The popularity ofMvC 3was meant to lead to future successes for the franchise, but its successor,Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite,disappointed in many ways. Since then, the franchise has remained dormant, and many Marvel characters haven’t seen a fighting game since outside re-releases.
After theMarvel Tōkon: Fighting Soulsannounce trailer, manyMarvel vs. Capcomfans have had their heads turned to what could end up being a kind of spiritual successor, and there’s a lot to love already from the trailer. Arc System Works has been a gold standard for 2D fighting games for a while now, and the studio’s involvement is only going to breed more confidence in the project. The game looks great, the animations seem smooth, and the fighting mechanics appear dynamic, all compliments associated withMvC 3. More importantly,Marvel Tōkonis a tag-team fighter.
Arc System Works is perhaps most famous for its work on theGuilty Gearfranchise, withGuilty Gear Strivebeing the latest installment.
A part of what made theMarvel vs. Capcomseries so popularis the tag-team mechanics, and there was a lot of confusion whenInfinitedownsized from the traditional three-verses-three format to two-verses-two.Marvel Tōkonhas gone the opposite way, introducing four-verses-four mechanics, which could mean players have access to all The Fantastic Four at once, depending on how large the roster ends up being. The fighting game genre has needed a proper sequel toMvC3for a while, and while this isn’t quite it,Marvel Tōkonis probably the closest thingMarvel vs. Capcomfans will get.
There Hasn’t Been A Mainstream Tag-Team Fighter Since Dragon Ball FighterZ
And That Was Also Made By Arc System Works
While fighting games have gone through a kind of renaissance of late, things have been a little dry on the tag-team fighting front.The last tag-team fighter to tear up the scene wasDragon Ball FighterZback in early 2018, and it was also made by Arc System Works. There’s a market for tag-team fighters, and Marvel isn’t the only big IP to try to take advantage of this. Despite its achingly slow development,2XKO(theLeague of Legendsfighting game) also has tag-team mechanics and could rivalMarvel Tōkonfor the crown in the sub-genre.
2XKOwas known asProject Lfor large parts of its development and is one of many projects planned by Riot Games in theLeague of Legendsuniverse.
Still,Marvel Tōkonlikely has the better chance of being the number one mainstream tag-team fighter. Arc System Works has all the experience in the world when it comes to these kinds of titles, Marvel characters are more recognizable thanLeague of Legends’cast, andMarvel Tōkon: Fighting Soulsis less confusing than2XKO.Arc System Works already has a history of continuing to updateDragon Ball FighterZwith plenty of characters after launch, and this would be the perfect way to giveMarvel Tōkonlongevity, considering the depth of character in Marvel.
More importantly,Marvel Tōkonis breaking new ground with four-verses-four tag team mechanics that look as chaotic as they are fun. Tag-team fighters are usually characterized by how chaotic they can get, with multiple players able to flood the screen at once with flashy attacks, andMarvel Tōkonhas this in spades. If development continues smoothly, it has everything it needs to be the de facto game in the tag-team fighter genre, with Marvel’s characters, Sony’s money, and Arc System Works' know-how. It’s an unexpected yet hopefully winning combination.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls Is What The Fighting Game Genre Needs
It Has The Characters To Grow The Genre
Although the fighting game genre has grown in recent years, something I’m personally very glad to see after growing up with these games,Marvel Tōkoncould help it grow even more and could be exactly what the genre needs if it releases well. It shouldn’t be underestimated how iconic Marvel characters have become and the impact they can have on gaming.Marvel Rivals' initial successbenefited from its recognizable cast that allowed the lesser-known characters to shine, andMarvel Tōkoncould have a similar level of success, relatively speaking.
Fighting games will always be more niche than shooters because of how steep the initial learning curve is and how much information is needed just to get started. It’s what makes the genre addictive and difficult to get into, butMarvel Tōkonhas the cast to get more people involved. People will want to play their favorite heroes and villains, andMarvel Tōkoncould use this to grow the fighting game genre as a whole, although it will depend on how difficult Arc System Works makes its mechanics. Inputs like quarter circles might have to be left at the door.
Ultimately,it all depends on what Arc System Works wants to do withMarvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls. If it wants to make a spiritual successor toUltimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3and keep that core audience, it will still be successful. If it wants to explode onto the scene and attract a mainstream audience, it may consider simpler inputs to make the barrier of entry more accessible. Either way,Marvel Tōkonwill take the fighting game genre by storm, at the very least, and Marvel seems to be making the right decisions when choosing game studios to work with.
